FCB Nyasa Bullets yesterday completed a double over Silver Strikers after coming from behind to defeat the TNM Super League defendi
ng champions 2-1 at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.
After a goalless first-half all hope seemed lost for Bullets, when in the 66th minute, Andre Joseph’s deflected shot left goalkeeper Innocent Nyasulu helpless.
The goal attracted a deafening silence from the home supporters with memories of 2024 season when Silver inflicted a home loss to Bullets through Chinsisi Maonga’s eleventh hour strike at the same venue, flooding back.
But Bullets, who stunned the Bankers 1-0 in the season opening match in April and also defeated them in Airtel Top 8 finals, immediately reorganised themselves and took the game to the visitors.
They soon and levelled through substitute Ephraim Kondowe who replaced Babatunde Adepoju at half-time in the 72nd minute.
Kondowe started the move deep in the midfield before picking another substitute Hassan Kajoke.
The forward, who came in for Peter Banda, reciprocated the gesture and Kondowe arrived in the box in time to receive the return pass and fire past Silver goalkeeper George Chikooka.
Kajoke then sealed the victory from the spot in the 81st minute when referee Mwayi Nsungama awarded Bullets a penalty after Chikooka left his line and cut down advancing winger Chikumbutso Salima.
Silver almost levelled moments later when Levison Maganizo forced Nyasulu to make a double save before defender Blessings Mpokela cleared the danger.
Silver’s protest that the ball crossed the goal line before it was cleared fell on deaf ears.
After the match, Bullets head coach Peter Mponda was on cloud nine.
He said: “A well-deserved victory. I think tactically we were on point. In terms of possession, we were also better than them. We just conceded from a defection and we fought back and got those two goals.”
But while emphasizing the importance of the victory over the defending champions, which has helped them maintain the four point gap between them and second-placed rivals Mighty Wanderers, also defeated Dedza Dynamos 1-0 at Dedza Stadium, Mponda said there are still more battles to be fought before starting to feel comfortable at the top.
His counterpart, Peter Mgangira said they would regroup and work on the shortfalls from the match.
“Well, I think the boys did their part they gave it all. If you look at the result, it’s not a true inflection of how the game was. We scored the first goal, then we were excited and we conceded the first goal.
“All in all, I’d say that that the result is not a true reflection of how the game was. But also, I should say that the referee and the panel, I think he didn’t control the game as I expected. I know Mwai Nsungama is a very professional, but he’s a human being. “But all in all, I don’t want to be like giving excuses. We should say that congratulations to Bullets, and then we move on from here.”
